As of December 17, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are engaged in combat operations on the frontline with a total length of more than 1,170 km, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi during an online speech at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
The most difficult situation is currently in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions. The occupants have increased pressure in the Kramatorsk, Toretsk and Vremivsk directions. Intense fighting also continues in the Kursk region, where Russians are trying to push out Ukrainian units, actively using North Korean troops who have already suffered significant losses.
“Ukrainian defenders are steadfastly holding the designated lines, destroying enemy personnel and equipment, for which I am grateful to the soldiers, sergeants and officers,” Syrskyi said.
According to the commander-in-chief, in the current circumstances, “the whole society must unite” to support the troops. In addition to the resilience of the soldiers, engineering and fortifications are also important.
According to Syrsky, the construction of the fortifications was divided into three stages, and the final stage is underway.
Therefore, he emphasized the need for the JFO to “act more actively on their own field” in terms of building fortifications, especially when it comes to echeloning them in depth.